Dresden (dpa / sn) – Saxony wants to strengthen domestic mining and thus make itself more independent of international supply chains. To this end, the cabinet decided on a new raw materials strategy on Tuesday. This provides, for example, for the development of domestic raw material sources for mining, a strengthening of raw material recycling and the use of renewable raw materials such as wood. In the future, applications and approvals should be possible digitally and science and industry should be better networked. This is intended to replace the previous raw materials strategy from 2012.
“Everything comes from the mine” – the saying is more relevant than ever, emphasized Economics Minister Martin Dulig. There is a growing demand for raw materials worldwide, mainly due to digitization and the energy transition. In addition, the dependencies in raw materials from other countries are becoming more conscious every day. “Whether due to supply bottlenecks during the corona pandemic or currently due to the consequences of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, which we are also feeling.”
Saxony has raw material potential that is unique in Germany, said the SPD politician. According to the information, tin, tungsten, nickel, indium and other metal ores are stored in the Ore Mountains in addition to lithium. Lithium, for example, is also known as “white gold”. It is a core component of batteries in electric cars, but is also used in laptops, smartphones and many other devices.
According to the ministry, more than 3,000 people work in 75 companies in the mining and raw materials sector. If you add the partly dependent manufacturing industry, there are more than 3,000 companies with around 280,000 employees. Saxony has almost all raw materials in the stone and earth sector to cover domestic needs. Of the approximately 220 active mines in Bavaria, more than 95 percent are active in this area.
